Key West Hotels | Key West | Key West information and city guide

When my husband surprised me with a trip to Key West for my 40th birthday I was thrilled. Friends who had visited here had a wonderful time. Our first trip was incredible and our subsequent trips were just was wonderful. It is out of our love for Key West that we designed this site.
Through out the site you will see "Notes from the Webmaster".
This is information that we learned during our trips to Key West that helped make our trips more enjoyable. We hope this information is helpful to you too!

The comments are the opinions of the webmaster and not
anyone else affiliated with or advertising with the website.

The biggest mistake we made on our first trip to Key West was over packing. One suitcase per person should be plenty. Knowing the weather during the time of year that you are visiting will help you know what to pack. Weather in winter ranges from 60-70 degrees with evenings a little cooler. During the summer it is warm and very humid, but there is always a breeze. Temps run in the upper 80's during the day and in the low 80's to high 70"s at night. View our online temperature and precipitation chart.
Dress is casual all year round. Almost all restaurants allow nice shorts and jeans. If you are going to a more elegant restaurant, pack one dressy outfit. Water shoes are a must. Since Key West is a coral formation, most beaches are very rocky, as is the water. You'll be glad you picked up a pair. Save room in your suitcase as I'm sure you'll find some clothing here you just can't live without.

Winter/Fall Packing:
Light jacket, comfortable shoes/sandals, a few pair of jeans/long
pants, short sleeve tops, sweater, bathing suit, cover-up, sleep wear. Water shoes, hat, water proof camera, digital camera if possible (this saves a lot on printing picks that aren't so good; you only keep and print the good ones), sunscreen, and at least one tropical print shirt!

Spring/Summer:
Cotton is the word...shorts, tops and one pair of long pants. At least two bathing suits (one will always be wet) and a cover-up. Sleep wear, a hat, comfortable shoes/sandals, water proof camera, sunscreen, water shoes, camera, a personal fan/mister, and at least one tropical print shirt!

In the off season, getting around town isn't an issue. Parking always is an issue. If your hotel/inn provides a shuttle into Old Town, take advantage of it. You won't have to worry about getting lost, where to park or drinking and driving. There are private and city parking areas, it will cost you a fee, but you won't risk a parking ticket or driving around trying to find an elusive parking spot on the street. Rates about $10.00 per day for Park/Ride. Private lots much more. Meters $1.00 an hour. Parking tickets $35.00. Park and ride facilities include... *300 Grimmell Street- with shuttle into town every 30 min. *Bight area- with shuttle. Try the Bone Island Shuttle which stops at many hotels and takes you into town for a about $7.00 a day. kids under 12 free.

About 20% of Key West Conchs ride bikes or mopeds, as well as
many visitors. Be extra careful when driving, to look out for these
smaller vehicles. Remember pedestrians have the right of way. Seeing the town from a bike or moped is fun. Rentals are available all over the island. To rent a moped you must be 18 with a drivers license.

As you stroll down Duval Street beware of the time share booths. If you have 2-3 hours to spend seeing one of the cities lovely time share properties and your will is strong to stand up to a few pushy sales people, you could end up with a certificate to one of the sunset cruises or snorkeling trips or dinner at a local restaurant. If not, stay away. If you are thinking of buying a time share, be sure to take advantage of this deal.

We suggest that you make at least some of your plans for such activities as snorkeling trips, fishing trips, sunset cruises and Dry Tortugas trips before you leave home. Especially during peak tourist season, these activities fill up fast and you don't want to miss out. There are no discounts for last minute booking, so plan ahead to ensure you get to do everything you want to on your trip to Key West.

Be sure to check out the cruise ship calendar on this site. We suggest you do most of your sightseeing in Old Town on days when a cruise ship is not in port. The bars, restaurants, shops and attractions are much busier on cruise ship days. On our visits we found stores lower prices on days when the cruise ships aren't in town. For a nice tee shirt for example, you could save a couple of dollars. It could add up. Cruise Ship Schedule

The eternal question. Should I bring my kids to Key West? The answer is, it depends. If you plan on drinking your way up and down Duval Street, I would say no. If you're planning to visit during fantasy fest week, I would say no. (Fantasy Fest is an adult orientated celebration which can include public nudity and other questionable sights for kids) If you aren't comfortable with Key West's "live and let live" atmosphere, I would say no. But, you can have a wonderful family vacation in Key West. If you are staying at a Bed & Breakfast, be sure to check if children are welcome.
Almost all the hotels and inns have a pool/spa. There are many beautiful beaches, fun activities like fishing, snorkeling, boat trips, museums and fun attractions. If you plan, your kids will have a fantastic trip to Key West. Here are some fun things for kids in Key West...

*A dolphin encounter
*Kayaking eco tour through the back country
*Glass bottom boat ride
*Visit the Key West Aquarium
*Take 88 steps up into history at the Key West Lighthouse
*Astro park playground across from Higgs Beach
*Take bread and feed the fish off White Street Pier.
*For kids too young to snorkel, get a plastic tub about 4 inches deep and go to the shallow water at Smather's beach. Walk in the water and view the fish.
*Visit Mallory Square at sunset to see some of the performers like "the cat man", jugglers, Pat's amazing bike tricks, animal acts and much more.

Listen to a great band and have a drink at Sloppy Joe's
Take a cruise to the Dry Tortugas for a fantastic day of snorkeling
Take a romantic sunset cruise
Have breakfast at Blue Heaven (729 Thomas Street)
Go fishing; flats or deep water
Go snorkeling; either a planned trip or buy a snorkel and fins and head to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach or Smather's Beach
Have a fish sandwich at BO's Fish Wagon (801 Caroline St)
Get a frozen White Russian from the Flying Monkey on Duval St.
Watch the sunset from Mallory Square with the one you love (or at least the one you like a lot)

Key West hotels and city guide. Helpful information on your Key West trip including secure online hotel reservations.
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